Ghana eyes auto assembly plant in Tanzania

Dar es Salaam. Ghana is considering establishing an automobile assembly plant in Tanzania in a move to strengthen trade with East Africa.

The plans under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement are to convince Kantanka Automobile Company Limited to set up the car assembly plant, Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry chief commercial officer, Mr Kofi Addo, told The Citizen yesterday.

“The good thing is that Kantaka is a Ghanaian assembly plant that makes cars or vehicles based on the African environment. They understand the African interest, and that is why it is good for us to talk and engage them to be here in Tanzania,” said Mr Addo.

Mr Addo was speaking during the official opening of a five-day Ghana Expo 2024 themed “Acceleration of Implementation of the AfCFTA Enhancing Ghana-Tanzania Relations.”

The expo brought 51 Ghanaian companies to showcase various products such as agro-processing, beverages, cosmetics, plastics and rubber, garments, leather and ICT-related services. Mr Addo, who made the remarks on behalf of Ghana’s Minister for Trade and Industry, Kobina Hammondo, said that setting up the assembly plant in Tanzania is something they need to roll out under AFCTA.

“Once we go back to Ghana, we are going to sit down with Kantaka Company and tell them about the Tanzanian market and available opportunities,” he said.

Kantanka Automobile makes the Kantanka brand of vehicles in five different models. The Kantanka Onantefo SUV, Kantanka Omama Luxury and Ordinary Pickups, Kantanka K71 Mini SUV, Kantanka Mensah Saloon and Kantanka Amoanimaa Saloon Cars.

He urged participants to fully engage in the expo, seize the opportunities that lie before them, and collaborate towards “a prosperous and interconnected Africa.” The private sector coordinator for AfCFTA’s guided trade initiative in Ivory Coast, Ms Constance Besse, said since the ratification of the continental trade agreement, the number of imports and exports has remained low.

She noted that by the end of 2024, they intend to increase the number of countries participating in the GTI through further engagement, sensitization, and awareness-raising for the private sector on the AfCFTA operational tools.

“We are also considering the upcoming Biashara Afrika (Business Forum) event scheduled to be held in May 2024 to allow further active participation by the private sector, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises,” she said.